Francis Bitonti Studio’s New Skins Workshop Series, led by Francis Bitonti, launched Summer 2013 in Brooklyn, New York. Exploring new computational design methods and techniques, New Skins Workshop continuously focuses on immersing students with the tools and software needed to design and fabricate complex geometry in computational fashion design.

Venue: Digits2Widgets
On site at an industrial 3-D printing bureau where students will be shown Nylon SLS technology in action. This will provide a proper understanding of the manufacturing tool that they’re working with and which can augment the sophistication of the ultimate design object.[Digits2Widgets]

Program History:
Francis Bitonti Studio’s New Skins Workshop Series, led by Francis Bitonti, launched Summer 2013 in Brooklyn, New York. Exploring new computational design methods and techniques, New Skins Workshop continuously focuses on immersing students with the tools and software needed to design and fabricate complex geometry in computational fashion design. With the intent to create new iconic forms and shapes, students work closely with Francis Bitonti Studio throughout the duration of the Workshops in the development and execution of 3-D printed textiles. Francis Bitonti explains, “The workshop is about finding the new aesthetic formal language of this new manufacturing paradigm. It’s not just about replicating a form from the computer, though that is part of it—it’s about cultivating new material behaviors.”

Course Description:
Francis Bitonti Studio’s New Skins 2015, London Workshop will be a study of multifaceted skin textures. Looking at both human and animals while investigating textures such as feather, fur and hair, this workshop will continue to focus on the investigative use of computation to create new morphologies, including research of both organic and synthetic skins textures. We will continue to study the design and fabrication of complex differentiated articulated textiles. We will examine not only how to create articulated 3-D printed flexible fabrics, but how to create textures that transform with movement and animate themselves across the body. We will then synthesize this research into the creation of an articulated garment in a studio based, collaborative environment.